insurance renewals
Discussion
Mum has house insurance with an insurance company that specialises in over 60's(yea you know the one). Paid last year with her debit card, by phone, this year they have automatically took payment off her card for renewal, sent a letter stating this. Is this even chuffin legal?. Really annoys me, my car insurance company tried to do the same, with all the extras, you know, key cover, legal fees etc, Ill decide if i want those thanks!. My beef is the covering letter is stating that we WILL be doing this, not can we. Ive no idea if they take payment before that letter is sent, or whether there is any 'legal' requirement for them to do this.
Well, thats if you even get a letter, if they ask you over the phone to 'update' your details as a courtesy, they then take this as a signal to send all corresepondance by email. A BT landline i had switched to online billing without notification,as did my vodafone contract, surely these actions are NOT legal either?. These companies record all phone conversations to cover thier arse, but I would like to know the legalities of some of thier actions.
Well, thats if you even get a letter, if they ask you over the phone to 'update' your details as a courtesy, they then take this as a signal to send all corresepondance by email. A BT landline i had switched to online billing without notification,as did my vodafone contract, surely these actions are NOT legal either?. These companies record all phone conversations to cover thier arse, but I would like to know the legalities of some of thier actions.
I would have thought that the letter was simply notification of the fact that the renewal will take place unless you contact them to say no thanks.....
It should not have anything that wasn't in the policy last year and should come out in plenty of time prior to renewal. If not kick their sorry arses
It should not have anything that wasn't in the policy last year and should come out in plenty of time prior to renewal. If not kick their sorry arses
chimster said:
I would have thought that the letter was simply notification of the fact that the renewal will take place unless you contact them to say no thanks.....
It should not have anything that wasn't in the policy last year and should come out in plenty of time prior to renewal. If not kick their sorry arses
how can a self renewing policy be legal though? has it ever been challenged in court?. It should not have anything that wasn't in the policy last year and should come out in plenty of time prior to renewal. If not kick their sorry arses
Forgettting (or not bothering) to cancel the auto-renewal has got to be better than forgetting (or not bothering) to renew your insurance at all.
I think it's great - I get some alternative quotes then ring up and say I don't want to renew. Then they tranfer me to retentions and they match the other prices. Except with LV= on my car this year - all the alternative quotes were higher!
I think it's great - I get some alternative quotes then ring up and say I don't want to renew. Then they tranfer me to retentions and they match the other prices. Except with LV= on my car this year - all the alternative quotes were higher!
Likewise I'm not too keen on this little wheeze some insurance companies have adopted to ensure they retain your business. I would guess it's technically legal in the sense that they are offering a service and unless you contact them to say you don't want it, then you pay for it. Similar theme to direct debits as normally they are a fixed fee unless they inform you otherwise ?
Where it breaks down in my eyes is that they send a notice by normal post, so they have no way of knowing if you have actually received the letter. They assume you have and then simply take your money if you don't tell them not to. It might be legal but personally I think that's verging on sharp/unethical practice.
Ok, it's not too far removed from direct debits, etc, but in my experience renewal premiums can vary much more than any DD we've ever had. In one case we had the renewal premium at slightly under £700 with a "don't worry, we'll just take the payment from your account sir". I rang them to cancel it and tell them not to take payment, then proceeded to insure exactly the same policy with the same company via their on-line website at £330. Yes, seriously, almost £400 for the "benefit" of not having to get a market quote and having it renewed for me.
It's nothing to do with looking after the customer, it's all about business retention and in our case at least, premium inflation.
Personally I never use a debit card only a credit card to pay and state clearly on the phone call/renewal slip that I don't want them to retain my payment details or any form of automatic renewal which includes them assuming we'll renew and sending out the policy documents.
That was on the advice of my credit card company and so far it's worked quite well.
Where it breaks down in my eyes is that they send a notice by normal post, so they have no way of knowing if you have actually received the letter. They assume you have and then simply take your money if you don't tell them not to. It might be legal but personally I think that's verging on sharp/unethical practice.
Ok, it's not too far removed from direct debits, etc, but in my experience renewal premiums can vary much more than any DD we've ever had. In one case we had the renewal premium at slightly under £700 with a "don't worry, we'll just take the payment from your account sir". I rang them to cancel it and tell them not to take payment, then proceeded to insure exactly the same policy with the same company via their on-line website at £330. Yes, seriously, almost £400 for the "benefit" of not having to get a market quote and having it renewed for me.
It's nothing to do with looking after the customer, it's all about business retention and in our case at least, premium inflation.
Personally I never use a debit card only a credit card to pay and state clearly on the phone call/renewal slip that I don't want them to retain my payment details or any form of automatic renewal which includes them assuming we'll renew and sending out the policy documents.
That was on the advice of my credit card company and so far it's worked quite well.
markcoznottz said:
Deva Link said:
^ Think you need one of them tin-foil hats.
Hes right to be cautious, it isnt a direct debit, and it is extremely dubious, especially condisering its not sent by recorded post. In the unlikely event you failed to get both of those, what would prompt you to renew your insurance? Maybe you'd just remember - a lot of people wouldn't.
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